Study says pollution, cancer a match near Canada industry

Orange County Register (CA)

10-23-13

Oct. 22--Cancer-causing pollution was detected at higher levels downwind of
Canada's "Industrial Heartland," where tar sands are processed, and people
living in these downwind areas also had higher rates of some cancers, according
to a new study led by a UC Irvine researcher.

While the study and its authors do not identify the industrial area as the
definitive cause of higher cancer rates, the lead author, UC Irvine researcher
Isobel Simpson, said greater vigilance about pollution and its health effects
are warranted.

"We certainly would recommend both increased (volatile organic compound)
monitoring as well as increased health surveillance in this area and other areas
where these two things could be occurring together," she said, including the Los
Angeles region.

She said she hopes to encourage reductions in emissions from the Industrial
Heartland.

For the study, which included researchers from the University of Michigan,
scientists took air samples in Fort Saskatchewan, a rural area downwind of the
heartland, in 2008, 2010 and 2012. The heartland area processes oil, gas and tar
sands.

Each of the sampling efforts yielded higher-than-normal levels of pollutants
called volatile organic compounds, including benzene and others that are known
to cause cancer.

Levels of some chemicals were higher than those in cities known for high
pollution, such as Mexico City in the 1990s and the Houston-Galveston area
today.

The scientists also gathered more than a decade's worth of health records, and
found that men living near the higher pollution areas also showed higher levels
of leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma than men in neighboring counties.

"What we're observing is these two things in the same place," Simpson said.
"Excess concentrations of these carcinogens, and observing excess cancers --
exactly the kind of cancers caused by these carcinogens."

The results make it plausible that the heartland area's emissions caused the
increase in cancer, she said, although more detailed health surveillance, along
with better emissions and exposure data, would be needed to make a more
definitive connection.

More research also needs to be done, she said, on the health effects of
low-level exposure to contaminants, as well as the effects of exposure to
multiple carcinogens.

___

Contact the writer: 714-796-7865 or pbrennan@ocregister.com

___

(c)2013 The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Visit The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.) at www.ocregister.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

Articles featured in Life Extension Daily News are derived from a variety of news
sources and are provided as a service by Life Extension. These articles, while of
potential interest to readers of Life Extension Daily News, do not necessarily represent
the opinions nor constitute the advice of Life Extension.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.